Simplify Your Financial Planning With Key Actions in the First Half of 2025 (Easy-to-Follow Calendar Included)

We wear many hats that keep us busy, and while financial planning is important, it doesn’t have to feel like one more thing to juggle. The good news is you can tackle your financial planning without feeling overwhelmed—and at the end of this post, there's a downloadable financial planning calendar with all the tasks to help keep you on track!

By focusing on key actions early in the year, you can simplify your financial planning and feel at peace, knowing you’re set up for success. The steps below will carry you through the second half of the year when things tend to get a lot busier, so you can focus on what matters most without worrying about your finances.

January: Make Self-Care Part of Your Budget 

Your well-being is essential for juggling all your important tasks and your long-term success. This year, prioritize yourself by ensuring your budget includes space for activities that nurture your mental and physical health. Whether it’s yoga classes, a wellness retreat, or regular massages, make self-care non-negotiable in your financial plan.

How to do it: 

- Set a monthly amount for self-care in your budget. 

- Create a separate account for your self-care expenses and deposit the budgeted amount every month. 

- If necessary, review your current spending to find areas where you can adjust and make room for this priority.

Why it’s important: 

- Women often prioritize others before themselves. By budgeting for self-care, you’re ensuring that your needs are met, which in turn helps you manage other responsibilities better.

Bonus: January is Financial Wellness month so prioritizing your self-care and making it part of your budget is perfect for kicking off the year.

February: Streamline Your Budget 

Simplifying your budget is one of the easiest ways to reduce stress and improve financial clarity. Focus on automating savings and cutting unnecessary expenses, so you’re not constantly making decisions about where your money goes.

How to do it: 

- Use a budgeting app to track your spending. Notice spending that happens automatically, Are they necessary?

- Automate transfers to your savings and investment accounts. This gives you one less thing to do, while still ensuring you're on track.

- Cancel subscriptions or memberships you no longer need and negotiate lower rates for recurring services.

Why it’s important: 

- Simplifying your budget reduces decision fatigue, freeing up your energy for more important things, while still ensuring that you are on track.

Complimentary Financial Planning

Book Now

March: Maximize Your Tax Efficiency 

With complex compensation like stock options, RSUs, or bonuses, optimizing taxes is essential. This month is perfect for reviewing your tax situation to ensure you have a tax optimization plan for the year.

How to do it: 

- Make a plan to maximize contributions to tax-advantaged accounts

- Explore less well-known benefits such as a deferred compensation plan

- Develop an RSU and stock option vesting strategy

- Meet with a tax professional to review complex financial situations for tax-saving strategies

Why it’s important: 

- Proactively managing your taxes can save you money and reduce last-minute stress.

April: Understand Your Net Worth 

Your net worth is one of the best indicators of your overall financial health. Understanding what you own (your assets) versus what you owe (your liabilities and debts) gives you a clear picture of where you stand and helps you make informed decisions about your financial priorities. By regularly tracking your net worth, you can identify areas for growth, reduce liabilities, and increase your financial confidence.

How to do it: 

- List all your assets (savings, investments, property) and liabilities (debts, loans, mortgages). 

- Subtract your liabilities from your assets to calculate your net worth. 

- Review this number at least once a year to track your progress.

- Use a free tool like The ADAPT Financial Planning Worksheet to calculate, track, and better understand your net worth and other aspects of your finances.

Why it’s important: 

- Knowing your net worth helps you prioritize financial actions like paying off debt or increasing investments. By regularly tracking your net worth, you can identify areas for growth, reduce liabilities, and increase your financial confidence.

Bonus: April is Financial Literacy month so gaining financial clarity is perfect for kicking off the second quarter of the year.

May: Simplify Your Investments 

This month, focus on simplifying your portfolio to align with your goals while reducing the time spent monitoring your accounts.

How to do it: 

- Revisit your retirement goals and make adjustments.

- Rebalance your portfolio to match your risk tolerance and financial objectives. 

- Consolidate any old accounts, like retirement plans from previous jobs, to streamline your investments.

Why it’s important: 

- Simplifying your investments reduces financial overwhelm and helps you focus on long-term growth.

June: Update Your Insurance and Estate Plan 

Protecting your family and loved ones is a crucial part of financial planning. Life changes like marriage, having children, or a new job may require updates to your insurance policies and estate plan.

How to do it: 

- Review your life insurance coverage and increase it if necessary. Explore additional insurance such as an Umbrella policy to protect your assets.

- Ensure your will, healthcare proxy, and other estate planning documents are up to date.

- Ensure your beneficiaries are up to date.

Why it’s important: 

- Keeping your estate plan and insurance current offers peace of mind, ensuring you and your loved ones are protected.

Conclusion

You are already in charge of many things, so let's make your 2025 financial planning as easy as possible! By following these key actions, you’ll feel more confident and in control of your financial future. Use the Easy-to-Follow Calendar to help you stay on track, and remember that it’s the small, consistent steps that lead to big results.

Financial Planning Calendar

.xlsx

Download XLSX • 20KB

For a more guided approach to financial planning, with intentional steps every month, consider joining The Net Worth Growth Lab.

You’ve got this!